By Stefanie Grimm
It was a performance worth waiting for. Rescheduled from the end of last Friday's rain-cancelled card, the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. finally got its day on course as 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) drove right on past his opposition to pick up his first graded-stakes win.
Second by a head on debut Jan. 21 to another 'Rising Star' in GI Belmont Derby winner Far Bridge (English Channel), the Chad Brown trainee responded with 8 3/4-length rout over the Gulfstream green Feb. 25, a performance that earned him a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The 1 1/16 mile GII American Turf S. was next on the dance card but a troubled trip saw the race favorite toss up a bogey and tire to eighth.
With Tyler Gaffalione taking over the mount from Jose Ortiz for the first time Friday, Carl Spackler was outrun early by a host of horses to his outside and was nearly last in the opening furlong as the field passed the wire the first time by. Hugging the hedge inside of Ocean Vision (Ire) (U S Navy Flag) into the backstretch, he was comfortably second flight behind the pace-setting duo of his stablemate Appraise (Ire) (Kodica {GB}) and European invader Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) through an opening quarter on the inner turf in :24.37.
The field of nine began to bunch up as they swung into the far turn and Carl Spackler got just the gap he needed to tip outside of rivals passing the quarter pole. With the same kick he showed in that Gulfstream maiden, the chestnut made up four lengths to get on even terms with the leaders and, with a sixteenth to run, went right on by his stablemate to secure the win by open lengths and top the Chad Brown exacta.
“The horse really benefitted from a break,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “Like I said before the race, after the race at Churchill I shipped him back home to Belmont and he just was not looking well. He got sick on the trip and [owner] eFive Racing is always patient with their horses and Bob [Edwards] said, 'Listen, just point him to Saratoga and get him right' and the horse really blossomed. The last couple of weeks, his coat was shining, the horse had his energy back. His last two works were excellent. I felt even though it was off a layoff and it was a big race, he was ready to fire a big one.”
Pedigree Note:
Carl Spackler is the 116th stakes winner and 65th group/graded winner worldwide for his prolific sire. His dam Zindaya, herself a graded-stakes winner in America, has produced several well-received offspring in Europe including a pair of Tattersalls October Yearling Book 1 entries in Tribal Warrior (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who brought 280,000gns and her 2021 Frankel filly for 450,000gns, both by the Godolphin operation. Zindaya is a half-sister to GISW Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley). She reported a full-sister to Carl Spackler last year, was not bred for 2023, and visited Uncle Mo for next Spring.
Friday, Saratoga Race Course
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HALL OF FAME S.-GII, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-11, 3yo, 1mT, 1:36.29, gd.
1–CARL SPACKLER (IRE), 118, c, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindaya (GSW, $567,240), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Aristocratic Lady, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: American Dynasty, by Quiet American
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. (350,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $336,000. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Appraise (Ire), 118, c, 3, Kodiac (GB)–Champagne Or Water (Ire), by Captain Rio (GB). (85,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 180,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Mr J & Mrs L Scott (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–More Than Looks, 124, c, 3, More Than Ready–Ladies' Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday. ($135,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Victory Racing Partners; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux. $60,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, NO, 2. Odds: 2.35, 7.80, 3.10.
Also Ran: Ocean Vision (Ire), Behind Enemy Lines (GB), Mischievous Angel, Mysterious Night (Ire), Bat Flip, General Jim.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
CARL SPACKLER takes the @nmrhof Stakes (G2) with @Tyler_Gaff aboard for Chad Brown and @e5Racing! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/kGA45DQ7RF
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 11, 2023
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